Cholera outbreak: Ogun puts school heads on red alert 

The Ogun State Government on Wednesday, directed school heads to ensure good health and safety of all learners and staff to prevent the spread of cholera within the school communities.

The state Commissioner for Education, Science and Technology, Abayomi Arigbabu, in a statement on Wednesday, said preventive measures have been put in place to control the spread of the disease in schools in the state.

Arigbabu said these measures take effect from Wednesday as schools resumed from the mid-term break and the Eid-el-Kabir holiday.

Arigbabu said that some of the measures include comprehensive health talks on cholera prevention among learners and staff, including information on symptoms, transmission routes, proper hand hygiene, and safe drinking water practices;

The commissioner said, “Schools must ensure availability of clean water and soap for hand washing on school premises, encourage regular handwashing, especially before eating and after using the restroom while also promoting the use of hand sanitisers with at least 60% alcohol content as a support to hand washing;

“Others are to regularly inspect and maintain water sources within school premises to ensure that they are safe for drinking; instruct learners and staff to consume only boiled or chlorinated water and avoid consuming raw or unwashed fruits and vegetables; Maintain clean and hygienic school environments, including proper disposal of waste and regular cleaning of toilets and common areas;

“Collaborate closely with local health authorities and follow their guidelines for cholera prevention and control measures; Ensure safe food preparation by making sure that they are properly cooked and covered when not consumed immediately; Monitor the food vendors closely and ensure that they collect letters from health facilities certifying their fitness for the job;

“Designate health officers within the school to monitor learners and staff for any symptoms of cholera (like frequent watery stooling, etc) and report any suspected cases immediately to the nearest Health Care Centre and or the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology.”

He added, “By adhering strictly to these preventive measures and maintaining a high level of vigilance, we can collectively safeguard our health and well-being during this critical period.”

The state Commissioner for Health, Tomi Coker, on Monday confirmed three reported cases of Cholera in the state.

Coker said while two cases were reported in Ado-Odo/Ota Local Government which borders neighbouring Lagos State which has recorded 17 cases and 15 deaths, the third case was reported in Abeokuta South Local Government area of the state.